It's been a while since Halloween was just about candy, but the holiday has seriously surged in 2024, and you can see it at Fort Worth-area restaurants. More and more are offering Halloween-themed foods and events: From colorful cupcakes to cocktail specials to restaurants hosting costume parties and special themed dinners. (Here's a list of bars doing spooky cocktail specials.)

Halloween is not just for kids anymore. Here's where to find all the bewitching eats and drinks:

Food specials

Cinnaholic, the cinnamon bun destination, has a new Cemetery Box featuring four rolls with chocolate frosting, topped with pretzels, oreos, sprinkles, and ghostly tombstone toppers for $24, available through October 31. Addison, Arlington, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Richardson, Las Colinas, Mesquite, and McKinney.

El Chingon, the Fort Worth Mexican restaurant, has spooky offers ranging from a burrito eating contest to specialty cocktails. The "boo-rito" eating contest on October 27 features an attempt to eat a five-pound ghost pepper burrito within 30 minutes, with the first three people to finish winning prizes including the ultimate VIP experience, a $100 gift card, and a $50 gift card. Entry is free. On October 31, there will be a costume contest with a $500 cash prize. Select cocktails are $12 through November 2, including the vampire’s blood, with vodka, blueberry cordial, lime juice, and Sprite; and candy corn, a combination of coconut rum, peach, orange juice, and grenadine.

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has new Halloween-inspired gelati favorites: Smashing Pumpkin with pumpkin pie ice, vanilla ice cream; Monster Mash with cookies & cream Ice, blue razz Ice, and vanilla ice cream; and Franken Frog with Mint ice and chocolate Ice Cream. All come with Trick or Treat candy mix.

Mr. Gatti's Pizza welcomes back Jack and Frank, two Halloween pizzas, so identified by their shape: Jack, a jack-o-lantern-shaped pizza, and “Frank,” a Frankenstein-shaped pizza. The pizzas are take-and-bake — wrapped on a tray with cooking instructions — and cost $10 each.

Nothing Bundt Cakes offers two special flavors, both starting at $6.25: chocolate toffee crunch, a chocolate chocolate chip cake drizzled with Hershey's caramel, filled with Heath English toffee, and topped with Heath pieces, available through October 20; and Oreo dirt cake with chocolate chocolate-chip cake, Oreo cookie pieces, chocolate pudding filling, and topped with fruity gummy worms, available October 28-November 10.

Southfork Ranch will host a murder mystery dinner on October 31. Attendees will have to unmask the killer behind the mayhem at a masquerade ball. The three-course meal includes salad; Angus steak kebobs with Lyonnaise potatoes and roasted root vegetables, or ginger habanero chicken with pineapple-mango chutney, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans; and choice of peach pie or chocolate lava cake. Attendees must be 21 or older, and are encouraged to wear evening wear and Venetian masks. Tickets are $125.

SusieCakes is serving several spooky treats including ghost and pumpkin sugar cookies, cake decorations — like the Black SusieKitty, spiderweb vintage, and Halloween cookie decorating kits — available through October 31. Prices start at $24 for a box of four Halloween sugar cookies. Boo cupcake box, Halloween cupcakes, and mini cupcakes start at $33 for a mini dozen cupcakes and will be available from October 16-31.

Rita's shaved ice chain has two new items: pumpkin toffee crunch and Dracula’s Delight. There's also a new almond toffee crunch topping. Available at all locations through November 3.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has brought back the Boorito, a Halloween tradition in which Chipotle Rewards members who show up in costume in can get a discounted entree for $6. It's a one-day special, on October 31, available from 3 pm to close.

Cocktail and drink specials

Texas Live!, the Arlington entertainment venue, is hosting a graveyard themed bar crawl on October 26 at 8 pm. Sip on special cocktails, including Bloody Shirley Temple and graveyard margarita, enjoy live music from DJs, and compete in a costume contest with $5,000 in cash prizes. The bar crawl is free, but a $30 general admission ticket includes three drinks and a lanyard badge.

Bar Louie is featuring specials on bites and booze, including $5 Blue Moon drafts and limited-time Halloween-inspired shots. Shots feature poison apple, withRum Haven, Melon Liqueur, Pineapple, and cream and phantom fizz, withSauza Silver, sour, butterfly pea flower, and Sprite. There’s also October Martini of the Month: the Purple Reign Martini with Deep Eddy Lemon, Las Californias Citrico, honey, pineapple, and lemon butterfly pea flower. Guests can add Bavarian Pretzels to their order for $9. The specials last from October 31-November 3.

Dia de los Muertos

Mexican Sugar is offering a cocktail and flower crown class for $45 per person on October 31. Then, there will be Dia de los Muertos celebrations November 1-2, featuring complimentary tequila tastings, a tequila smoke show featuring a nitrogen margarita bar, complimentary permanent flash tattoos, a marigold photo opportunity, and DJs to keep the vibe lively. Activities will be available at Las Colinas, Plano, and Uptown locations.

Taqueria La Ventana is having a Día de los Muertos celebration at Addison and Mansfield locations on November 2 from 6-10 pm. There will be DJs, face painting, and a Catrina costume contest where guests can compete for a $100 gift card. Attendees can also enjoy free pan de muerto and hot chocolate while supplies last. In Mansfield, the bonus feature is a Pretty Little Things market and a game of lotería.